FIELD CROPS. 633 



dried barleys, and increased in the remainder, wliereas in 1903, an increase 

 took place in half the samples. Variations in weather, soil, and other local 

 conditions are assigned as the causes. Differences in coagulable nitrogen were 

 so small as to be within the limits of experimental error (0.01 to 0.02 per cent). 

 The soluble phosphoric acid of 62 per cent of all samples showed an increase, 

 and in general this increase appeared to be accompanied by a decrease of 

 soluble nitrogenous material. Steeping to complete the malting process 

 apiieared to increase the soluble nitrogenous material. In 1903, drying 

 appeared to increase the diastatic power in § of all samples, decreasing it in 

 the remainder, while the proteolytic power decreased in 3 of the cases and 

 increased in the remainder. The carbohydrate content appeared to have de- 

 creased during drying in the case of half the samples, while an increase 

 appeared in the other 50 per cent. 



Corn culture, J. M. Kimbrough {Georgia Stn. Bui. 88, pi). -i-J-t?3, flgs. 15). — 

 Variety, fertilizer, and cultural tests are reported. 



In a test of 23 varieties, 3 strains of Marlboro Prolific produced more than 

 40 bu. each per acre with from 110 to 136 ears to the bushel of shelled corn. 

 An experiment to determine the relative productivity of seed corn from long 

 and short ears showed average yields of 45.47 and 43.22 bu. per acre, respec- 

 tively, reversing the small difference in favor of the short ears previously 

 reported (E. S. R., 21, p. 538). 



In a fertilizer experiment comi)aring cotton-seed meal, tankage, and a mix- 

 ture of the two as sources of nitrogen, the respective yields per acre were 43.49, 

 45.62, and 44.42 bu. In another series of tests, formulas made up of 150 lbs. 

 acid phosphate, 7.2S lbs. muriate of potash and 180 lbs. of cotton-seed meal, or 

 an amount of nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia sufficient to supply an 

 equivalent quantity of nitrogen, was used. Analyses showed the cost of a 

 pound of nitrogen at prevailing prices to be 23.5 cts. in cotton-seed meal, IS5 

 cts. in nitrate of soda, and 13 cts. in sulphate of ammonia. The cost of the 

 increased yield was $1, 86 cts., and 74 cts. per bushel, respectively. 



The Gilmore method of corn culture has proved uniformly good at this sta- 

 tion and is recommended, while the trials of the Williamson method were un- 

 favorable, except in a test of a modified form. In a comiiarisou with ordinary 

 corn culture, the ordinary method yielded 26.19, the Gilmore method 30.39, and 

 the Williamson method 24.23 bu. per acre. The cost of production by the Gil- 

 more method was 5S cts. per bushel less than by the Williamson method and 

 about 20 cts. less than by the ordinary method. These differences in cost arose 

 from wide differences in the cost of cultivation and of the fertilizers applied. 



A difference in yield of 11.23 bu. per acre in favor of planting 2 kernels per 

 hill instead of 1 was secured when the hills were 3* ft. apart each way. Plats 

 on which was used a complete fertlizer supplying 150 lbs. acid phosphate, 180 

 lbs. cotton-seed meal and 8.4 lbs. of muriate of potash per acre at a cost of 

 $4.23 produced 1.S9 bu. more corn per acre than did plats treated with a 

 mixture of 300 lbs. of acid phosphate, 60 lbs. of muriate of potash and 60 lbs. 

 of nitrate of soda costing $5.61 per acre. 



Agricultural value of nitrogenous materials for cotton on the Houston 

 clays, as determined by field trials, F. D. Stevens (Alabama Canebrake Sta. 

 Bui. 27, pp. 16, fig. 1). — In an 8-year trial with cotton on the red, gray and black 

 phases of the Houston clay an average net profit of $1.86 per acre resulted 

 from the annual application of 200 lbs. of cotton-seed meal. The agricultural 

 or crop-producing value of the nitrogen in cotton-seed meal and nitrate of soda 

 is estimated at 36.9 cts. and 73.9 cts. per pound respectively, on these soils, 

 assuming that the fertilizers are purchased for their nitrogen content alone. 



